Brief History Of The Class.
In 1928 the Victorian Railways expanded their fleet of railmotors with more powerful units designed by the Electro-Motive Company, USA. These were able to haul a substantial trailer and even some goods wagons. Ten of these units entered service between 1928 and 1931, numbered 55RM to 64RM. They were powered by a single petrol engine of 220hp driving a generator that supplied power to the electric motors on the axles of the power bogie. Officially they were known as Petrol Electric Rail Motors, but they were also known as P.E.R.Ms or P.Es.
In the 1930s these cars were running to places such as Geelong, Yarram, Lancefield, Hopetoun, Maffra and the branchlines radiating out of Bendigo. At the height of the Great Depression between 1931 and 1936 they ran the service between Woodend and Daylesford.
In the early 1950s the petrol engines were replaced by two GM diesels and they became universally known as D.E.R.Ms. They continued to run branchline services to places like Mansfield until these lines closed in the 1970s. After this they were often found on services to Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh and Seymour. They were gradually withdrawn through the 1980s with the last in 1991, 60 years after entering service.
History of 63RM. (From P. Medlin)
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7/8/1930
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Entered service as a P.E.R.M.
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22/11/1937
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Derailed between Dimboola and Gerang Gerung.
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12/1952
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Converted to D.E.R.M.
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18/6/1956
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Derailed between Barrakee and Charlton in level crossing accident.
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26/5/1988
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Withdrawn from service.
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198?
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Transferred to CHTR.
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11/1992
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Entered service on the CHTR as Motor No 63.
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Interesting Notes.
The P.E./D.E.R.Ms ran most of the branchline passenger services out of Bendigo from 1930 to 1976, a period of 46 years.
63RM is older than many steam locomotives.
63RM was the second vehicle restored by the CHTR and entered service in November 1992. Over the past 8 years it has run over 7,000 miles.
Restoration Policy
63RM has been restored as close as possible to its appearance of entering service in 1931, with the exception of the petrol engine and some other minor details.
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References:
Ednie, Nick, (ed) "10 years of a DERM 63RM", The Turntable, CHTR, Daylesford, Victoria, 2002.
Fell, Barry & Brook, Arthur, CHTR Rollingstock Register, CHTR, Daylesford, Victoria, 2001.
Medlin, Peter, E-mail on 19/7/2002.
Vincent, Peter, "RM - PERM/DERM Rail Motor", Victorian Railways Rolling Stock 1886 - 1996, CD-ROM, 1998
